Latest news with #KateBurt
ITV News
20-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
‘We are still waiting for justice': Infected blood victims call on PM to act
The Prime Minister has been challenged to give assurances to victims of the infected blood scandal that their 'suffering will not be dragged out further' amid ongoing concerns around the compensation scheme. In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, campaigners have highlighted the 'physical and emotional burden' of the 'continual fight for fair compensation'. Campaigners handed their letter in to 10 Downing Street on the anniversary of the seminal report into the scandal. The Infected Blood Inquiry concluded that the scandal 'could largely have been avoided' and there was a 'pervasive' cover-up to hide the truth. More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. And more than 3,000 people have died as a result while survivors are living with lifelong health implications. A compensation scheme was announced the day after the report was published. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority has said, as of May 6, 106 compensation payments have been made, totalling more than £96 million. But concerns have been raised about the scheme, leading to the inquiry holding special hearings to highlight the impact on victims. The new letter states: 'The physical and emotional burden of this continual fight for fair compensation is falling with ever greater weight on the shoulders of those who have already had to campaign for too long.' 'We look to the Government now for recognition of the anxiety and stress the last 12 months of uncertainty have caused and for an assurance that this suffering will not be dragged out further,' adds the letter, which has been co-signed by officials from the Haemophilia Society; Tainted Blood; Haemophilia Wales; Haemophilia Northern Ireland and Tainted Blood – Affected Siblings And Children. Kate Burt, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, said: 'A year ago, the Infected Blood Inquiry published its devastating report into the multiple failings that led to the contaminated blood scandal. 'The inquiry gave us the truth but we're still waiting for justice. 'Until everyone impacted by this scandal receives fair compensation, there can be no justice. 'Nor can justice be achieved without learning the lessons set out so compellingly in the Infected Blood Inquiry's report. 'The steps taken towards implementing the inquiry's recommendations are welcome but there is a long road ahead. 'We urge the Government to make this a priority for the safety and protection of everyone who uses the NHS today and in the future.' It comes as the Terrance Higgins Trust wrote to inquiry chairman Sir Brian Langstaff highlighting concerns over the compensation scheme. 'We are witnessing a marked increase in both the frequency and intensity of distress among those we support,' the letter from charity chief executive Richard Angell states. The letter adds: 'The victims we work with – everyone with HIV – should not be burdened with further bureaucratic hurdles – such as having to prove diagnoses like 'full-blown AIDS' – nearly two decades of HIV without treatment should speak for itself. 'Their claims are among the most straightforward and should be prioritised accordingly.' The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said: 'We are acting on the inquiry's 12 recommendations, so that this never happens again, and to get justice for victims. 'While no amount of compensation will make up for the suffering people have endured, we are committed to delivering compensation as swiftly as possible.'
The Herald Scotland
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
‘We are still waiting for justice': Infected blood victims call on PM to act
Campaigners handed their letter in to 10 Downing Street on the anniversary of the seminal report into the scandal. The Infected Blood Inquiry concluded that the scandal 'could largely have been avoided' and there was a 'pervasive' cover-up to hide the truth. More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. And more than 3,000 people have died as a result while survivors are living with lifelong health implications. A compensation scheme was announced the day after the report was published. Thank you to the Infected Blood Inquiry and all those who gave and listened to the evidence given last week. Hearing from community members directly is essential to IBCA, and we continue to work with the community to shape and improve the compensation service. — David Foley (@IBCA_CEO_UK) May 15, 2025 The Infected Blood Compensation Authority has said, as of May 6, 106 compensation payments have been made, totalling more than £96 million. But concerns have been raised about the scheme, leading to the inquiry holding special hearings to highlight the impact on victims. The new letter states: 'The physical and emotional burden of this continual fight for fair compensation is falling with ever greater weight on the shoulders of those who have already had to campaign for too long.' 'We look to the Government now for recognition of the anxiety and stress the last 12 months of uncertainty have caused and for an assurance that this suffering will not be dragged out further,' adds the letter, which has been co-signed by officials from the Haemophilia Society; Tainted Blood; Haemophilia Wales; Haemophilia Northern Ireland and Tainted Blood – Affected Siblings And Children. Kate Burt, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, said: 'A year ago, the Infected Blood Inquiry published its devastating report into the multiple failings that led to the contaminated blood scandal. 'The inquiry gave us the truth but we're still waiting for justice. 'Until everyone impacted by this scandal receives fair compensation, there can be no justice. 'Nor can justice be achieved without learning the lessons set out so compellingly in the Infected Blood Inquiry's report. 'The steps taken towards implementing the inquiry's recommendations are welcome but there is a long road ahead. 'We urge the Government to make this a priority for the safety and protection of everyone who uses the NHS today and in the future.' It comes as the Terrance Higgins Trust wrote to inquiry chairman Sir Brian Langstaff highlighting concerns over the compensation scheme. 'We are witnessing a marked increase in both the frequency and intensity of distress among those we support,' the letter from charity chief executive Richard Angell states. The letter adds: 'The victims we work with – everyone with HIV – should not be burdened with further bureaucratic hurdles – such as having to prove diagnoses like 'full-blown AIDS' – nearly two decades of HIV without treatment should speak for itself. 'Their claims are among the most straightforward and should be prioritised accordingly.' The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said: 'We are acting on the inquiry's 12 recommendations, so that this never happens again, and to get justice for victims. 'While no amount of compensation will make up for the suffering people have endured, we are committed to delivering compensation as swiftly as possible.'
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Infected blood compensation fears as inquiry reopens
Victims of the infected blood scandal have voiced fears over delays to compensation payments, as a public inquiry reopens on Wednesday to examine the pace of the government than 30,000 people in the UK were given contaminated blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s, the inquiry previously government said it had so far paid nearly £80m in compensation, having set aside a fund of £ Gary Webster, who was infected with HIV and hepatitis C as a Hampshire schoolboy, said people feared they would not live to see the payments which he said were "too slow" and apparently allocated at random. The 60-year-old said things had "gone downhill" since the main inquiry report on the scandal was published in May said: "They're saying they hope to pay all the infected by the end of 2027 and they hope to pay the affected by the end of 2029."Well, there's two people dying a week - you only have to do the sums yourself to work out that's a lot of people that aren't going to get paid, aren't going to get the justice and will die not knowing what happened." The Infected Blood Inquiry previously heard how NHS patients including haemophiliacs, women in childbirth and surgical patients were given blood from high-risk donors such as prisoners and drug 3,000 people are estimated to have died as a result, including former pupils at Lord Mayor Treloar College, near Alton, Hampshire, who were infected at a specialist NHS haemophilia centre on inquiry is due to hold hearings on Wednesday and Thursday to examine the "timeliness and adequacy of the government's response to compensation". The Haemophilia Society said it hoped the reopened inquiry would "identify the urgent actions needed to fix this compensation scheme".Chief executive Kate Burt said: "Far from supporting this deeply damaged community, the delays and uncertainty created by the Government have added to their suffering."Justine Gordon-Smith, whose father Randolph died after being infected with hepatitis C, said those less directly affected by the scandal felt as though they were "at the back of the queue" for Gordon-Smith, from Edinburgh, said: "Of course, the infected should be prioritised."I think what we're concerned about is the degree of elderly affected people - the widows that are in their 80s, the ageing parents." Des Collins, a solicitor who represents many of those affected by the scandal, said: "People are dying as they wait for justice. They haven't seen it. In some cases, the claims die with them."Rachel Halford, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, said: "We hope that in reopening the inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff will be able to bring about a step change in the government's attitude to the people impacted by this terrible scandal."Government must stop ignoring their concerns about the compensation system, its serious inadequacies, IBCA's [Infected Blood Compensation Authority] complete lack of independence, and the glacial rate at which people are being invited to claim."As of 24 April, 475 people have been invited to start their claim and 77 payments have been made totalling more than £78m, according to IBCA figures.A spokesperson for the IBCA said: "Those impacted by the infected blood scandal have waited decades for recognition and compensation, and that is why our priority remains paying as many people as soon as possible."We have learned from every claim we have supported... to increase the number of claims each week."We are also expanding our team of trained claim managers. This means we can make more payments and make them faster."At the end of April, we opened our service to 200 more people and from 5 May we will open our service to another 200 people. From then on, we will ask for an average of 100 people to start their claims each and every week."A Government spokesperson said: "The victims of this scandal have suffered unspeakably."We have paid nearly £80m in compensation so far, and have set aside £11.8bn to deliver what is one of the most comprehensive compensation schemes in modern history." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Infected blood victims ‘could die before getting payouts'
People given infected blood in one of the worst treatment disasters in NHS history are 'scared they won't live to see compensation', campaigners have warned. The inquiry into the infected blood scandal will reopen later this week amid concerns surrounding compensation for victims. Officials said the hearings, to be held on May 7 and 8, will examine the 'timeliness and adequacy of the Government's response to compensation'. Gary Webster, who was infected with HIV and hepatitis C when he attended Lord Mayor Treloar School in Hampshire in the 1970s and 80s, said he felt 'things have gone downhill' since the inquiry published its main report in May last year. He told the PA news agency: 'Things aren't going the way they should be going – it's too slow and there seems to be a random system of who they pick. 'We fought for so many years to get to this stage… and now they're saying they hope to pay all the infected by the end of 2027 and they hope to pay the affected by the end of 2029. 'Well, there's two people dying a week – you only have to do the sums yourself to work out that's a lot of people that aren't going to get paid, aren't going to get the justice and will die not knowing what happened.' 'It just compounds the injury,' the 60-year-old added. 'I think people are scared now that they're not going to survive until they get compensation.' The Haemophilia Society said people's lives were 'ruined' by the scandal and delays to the compensation scheme have 'added to their suffering'. Kate Burt, the chief executive of the charity, said: 'Far from supporting this deeply damaged community, the delays and uncertainty created by the Government have added to their suffering. 'We hope the inquiry's new investigation will identify the urgent actions needed to fix this compensation scheme so that payments can be delivered quickly to everyone whose lives were ruined by this scandal.' More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood transfusions and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. Some 3,000 people died as a result, and some survivors are living with ongoing health implications. Justine Gordon-Smith, whose father died after being infected with hepatitis C, said that those affected by the scandal feel as though they are 'at the back of the queue'. Randolph Peter Gordon-Smith, her father, who had haemophilia, died in 2018. Ms Gordon-Smith, from Edinburgh, told PA: 'I think that the affected are at the back of the queue. 'Of course, the infected should be prioritised because they are the ones who are directly injured – I think what we're concerned about is the degree of elderly affected people – the widows that are in their 80s, the ageing parents.' She added: 'I would like there to be more recognition of secondary impact on people – family members, including parents, widows, children, such as myself, have been forced to make huge sacrifices in our lives.' Des Collins, a senior partner at Collins Solicitors, which represents a significant number of those affected by the scandal, told PA: 'People are dying as they wait for justice. 'They haven't seen it. In some cases, the claims die with them.' On the hearings, he said: 'They are relieved that at last, something appears to be happening, but there is a sense of we've been here before, and nothing ever seems to change.' Rachel Halford, the chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, said: 'A year on from the Infected Blood Inquiry report, the community is alienated, the compensation system is beset with problems, and almost nothing has been done to action the other 11 inquiry recommendations. 'Government must stop ignoring their concerns about the compensation system, its serious inadequacies, IBCA's (Infected Blood Compensation Authority) complete lack of independence, and the glacial rate at which people are being invited to claim. 'After 50 years, this is the least people deserve. They just want to move on with their lives. Yet for too many people, this last year has exacerbated decades of suffering.' Groups representing people infected and affected by the scandal and people infected themselves will give evidence during the latest hearings. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister, will also give evidence along with senior officials from the IBCA. In April, Mr Thomas-Symonds said he is 'restless for progress' in issuing payments to the infected blood scandal victims. The Infected Blood Inquiry published its main report on the scandal in May last year, and a compensation scheme was announced a day later. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, allocated £11.8 billion in her October Budget to compensate victims, administered by the IBCA. But campaigners and victims have since contacted the inquiry with concerns about the way compensation is being implemented and how long it is taking. Sir Brian Langstaff, the Inquiry chairman, has said the victims and families of those affected by the scandal have been left feeling distressed and powerless by the Government's approach to compensation. He said that people infected and affected by the scandal 'do not have time on their side'. As of April 24, some 475 people have been invited to make a claim and 77 payments have been made, totalling more than £78 million, according to IBCA figures. A spokesman for the IBCA said: 'Those impacted by the infected blood scandal have waited decades for recognition and compensation, and that is why our priority remains paying as many people as soon as possible. 'We have learned from every claim we have supported since we started to open our service in October 2024. Now we are using everything we have learned to increase the number of claims each week. 'At the end of April, we opened our service to 200 more people and from May 5 we will open our service to another 200 people. From then on, we will ask for an average of 100 people to start their claims each and every week.' A Government spokesman said: 'The victims of this scandal have suffered unspeakably. 'We remain fully committed to co-operating with the inquiry, are acting on its recommendations, and are grateful for its work to date. 'We have paid nearly £80 million in compensation so far, and have set aside £11.8 billion to deliver what is one of the most comprehensive compensation schemes in modern history.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Telegraph
05-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Infected blood victims ‘could die before getting payouts'
People given infected blood in one of the worst treatment disasters in NHS history are 'scared they won't live to see compensation', campaigners have warned. The inquiry into the infected blood scandal will reopen later this week amid concerns surrounding compensation for victims. Officials said the hearings, to be held on May 7 and 8, will examine the 'timeliness and adequacy of the Government's response to compensation'. Gary Webster, who was infected with HIV and hepatitis C during his time at Lord Mayor Treloar School in Hampshire in the 1970s and 80s, said he felt 'things have gone downhill' since the inquiry published its main report in May last year. He told the PA news agency: 'Things aren't going the way they should be going – it's too slow and there seems to be a random system of who they pick. 'We fought for so many years to get to this stage … and now they're saying they hope to pay all the infected by the end of 2027 and they hope to pay the affected by the end of 2029. 'Well, there's two people dying a week – you only have to do the sums yourself to work out that's a lot of people that aren't going to get paid, aren't going to get the justice and will die not knowing what happened.' 'It just compounds the injury,' the 60-year-old added. 'I think people are scared now that they're not going to survive until they get compensation.' The Haemophilia Society said people's lives had been 'ruined' by the scandal and said delays to the compensation scheme had 'added to their suffering'. Kate Burt, the chief executive of the charity, said: 'Far from supporting this deeply damaged community, the delays and uncertainty created by the Government have added to their suffering. 'We hope the inquiry's new investigation will identify the urgent actions needed to fix this compensation scheme so that payments can be delivered quickly to everyone whose lives were ruined by this scandal.' More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood transfusions and blood products in the 1970s and early 1990s. Some 3,000 people died as a result, while some survivors are living with ongoing health implications. Justine Gordon-Smith, whose father died after being infected with hepatitis C, said those affected by the scandal felt as though they were 'at the back of the queue'. Her father Randolph Peter Gordon-Smith, who had haemophilia, died in 2018. Ms Gordon-Smith, from Edinburgh, said: 'Of course, the infected should be prioritised because they are the ones who are directly injured – I think what we're concerned about is the degree of elderly affected people – the widows that are in their 80s, the ageing parents. 'I would like there to be more recognition of secondary impact on people – family members, including parents, widows, children, such as myself, have been forced to make huge sacrifices in our lives.' Des Collins, a senior partner at Collins Solicitors, which is representing a significant number of those affected by the scandal, said: 'People are dying as they wait for justice. They haven't seen it. In some cases, the claims die with them.' On the hearings, he added: 'They are relieved that at last, something appears to be happening, but there is a sense of we've been here before, and nothing ever seems to change.' Rachel Halford, the chief executive of the Hepatitis C Trust, said: 'A year on from the Infected Blood Inquiry report, the community is alienated, the compensation system is beset with problems, and almost nothing has been done to action the other 11 inquiry recommendations. 'Government must stop ignoring their concerns about the compensation system, its serious inadequacies, IBCA's [Infected Blood Compensation Authority] complete lack of independence, and the glacial rate at which people are being invited to claim. 'After 50 years, this is the least people deserve. They just want to move on with their lives. Yet for too many people, this last year has exacerbated decades of suffering.' Groups representing people infected and affected by the scandal and people infected themselves will give evidence during the latest hearings. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister, will also give evidence, along with senior officials from the IBCA. In April, Mr Thomas-Symonds said he was 'restless for progress' in issuing payments to the victims. The Infected Blood Inquiry published its main report in May last year, and a compensation scheme was announced a day later. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, allocated £11.8 billion in her October Budget to compensate victims, administered by the IBCA. But victims have since contacted the inquiry with concerns about the compensation scheme. Sir Brian Langstaff, the inquiry chairman, said the victims and families of those affected had been left feeling distressed and powerless by the Government's approach. He said those affected 'do not have time on their side'. As of April 24, some 475 people have been invited to make a claim and 77 payments have been made, totalling more than £78 million, according to IBCA figures. A spokesman for the IBCA said: 'Those impacted by the infected blood scandal have waited decades for recognition and compensation, and that is why our priority remains paying as many people as soon as possible. 'We have learned from every claim we have supported since we started to open our service in October 2024. Now we are using everything we have learned to increase the number of claims each week. 'At the end of April, we opened our service to 200 more people and from May 5 we will open our service to another 200 people. From then on, we will ask for an average of 100 people to start their claims each and every week.' A Government spokesman said: 'The victims of this scandal have suffered unspeakably. We remain fully committed to co-operating with the inquiry, are acting on its recommendations, and are grateful for its work to date. 'We have paid nearly £80 million in compensation so far, and have set aside £11.8 billion to deliver what is one of the most comprehensive compensation schemes in modern history.'
